KAZIRANGA, March 30 - The total population of one-horned Indian rhinos in Kaziranga National Park has been estimated to be 2,413.
This was disclosed by NK Vasu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), Assam (Wildlife) during a press meet at Heritage Forest IB at Kohora today. With this, the process of Rhino Estimation � 2018 came to an end. However, Vasu termed this result of Rhino Estimation as a figure of rhino monitoring exercise only.
Field enumeration started from March 26 to 28, including random sampling covering 74 compartments.
Addressing mediapersons, Vasu said that this time a technical committee was formed and headed by Utpal Bora, Chief Conservator of Forest to analyse data collected during the field enumeration of rhinos in Kaziranga National Park. The technical committee estimated that in case of adult (6 years and above) there are 642 male rhinos and 793 female rhinos. There are 206 unsexed rhinos under this category (adults).
In case of sub-adult rhinos (from 4 to 6 years), there are 116 male rhinos and 149 female rhinos and 122 unsexed rhinos.
Similarly in case of calves ( upto 1 year), there are 155 calves and above one year there are 230 calves in Kaziranga National Park. The total number of rhinos is 2,413.
The technical committee after analysis of the data collected claimed that there were 758 male and 942 female rhinos and their sex ratio is 1:1.2, which is an encouraging sign. The female and calf ratio had been analysed as 1:0.49, which is considered to be good.
Significantly, the technical committee recommended another round of Rhino Estimation in 2019 as head counting of rhinos could not be done in several areas due to presence of tall grasses. This year burning of tall grasses could be completed in only 25% of Kaziranga National Park against the actual recommendation of 50 to 60% tall grass areas.
When asked by this Correspondent about incomplete burning of tall grasses, Vasu said that due to heavy presence of moisture in most areas, burning could not be completed, for which enumerators� elephants could not negotiate the areas covered with tall grasses. Obviously, rhinos hidden by tall grasses could not be counted.
Most of the areas were left out from enumeration due to the presence of tall grasses, said Vasu. He added that the sex ratio indicated that the breeding status of rhinos in Kaziranga National Park was healthy. However, incomplete rhino counting was due to presence of tall grasses like Ekora, Kohua, Khagori, etc. Secondly, the elephants and mahouts were hired from private parties outside the park which were not familiar with the terrain of KNP. Thirdly, due to ongoing construction of highlands inside KNP by using heavy machinery led to skewed distribution of rhinos inside the Park.
